permits for foreigners with scarce and critical skills
25 April 2007
Almost 35 000 qualified professionals to contribute to economic growth
Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula today announces the
availability of 34 825 quota work permits for skilled foreigners able to
contribute to the growth of the South African economy in a number of areas
suffering from a shortage of critical skills. The list of professional
categories and occupational classes open to foreigners with formal
qualifications and a minimum of five years of practical experience is published
in today's Government Gazette and includes scarce and critical skills in
sectors ranging from agricultural economists to civil engineers, bioengineers,
mechatronics and autotronics technicians and structural steel and welding
trades workers. There are also quota work permits available for 1 000 maths and
science teachers.
In total, the regulation opening the South African job market to expert
professionals able to contribute to growth and assist in expanding the local
skills base includes 53 categories. These were identified jointly with the
Ministers of Labour and Trade and Industry and include further input from the
Presidency and the departments of Public Enterprises, Science and Technology,
Education and Public Service and Administration.
"The quota work permits we are announcing today will give employers facing
skills shortages a massive boost, allowing them to recruit skilled foreigners
and so to grasp business opportunities, create jobs, and ensure that local
employees are exposed to colleagues with cutting edge training and experience,"
said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula. "Through the Joint Initiative on Priority Skills
Acquisition (JIPSA) we have consulted widely with private and public sector
industry and organised labour on the quota permits announced today. As a
result, we are ensuring that our people gain maximum benefit from this opening
up of the economy to those who can assist in bridging the gaps as we grow our
own skills base in the country."
Under the quotas announced today, foreign professionals with recognised
qualifications in their fields and a minimum of five years of experience must
apply to the South African Embassy or High Commission in their home countries
for entry to the local labour market. Besides the usual personal documentation,
applicants are required to submit a completed evaluation of their formal
qualification by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and by the
relevant professional board or council in those cases where these bodies must
permit individuals to practice. Information regarding SAQA's evaluation
process, processing time frames and the cost of evaluations are obtainable from
SAQA's website at (http://www.saqa.org.za).
Successful applicants under the quota system are required to find a job in
their field of expertise and to report to a Home Affairs office within 90 days
of being issued with the necessary permission to enter the country by a South
African diplomatic mission. This remains valid for as long as permit holders
are employed within their areas of expertise, even if they change jobs. Permit
holders under this system must confirm to Home Affairs annually that they
continue to work in their designated professions.
"Every effort has been made to simplify the process so that we can get as
many skilled people into the economy as quickly as possible in those areas
where we are suffering from critical shortages," said Minister Mapisa-Nqakula.
"With the latest batch of 34 825 quota work permits for skilled foreigners,
government is again delivering on the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative
for South Africa (AsgiSA) with concrete measures capable of responding to the
challenges faced by the private and public sectors."
Enquiries:
Cleo Mosana
Spokesperson, Minister of Home Affairs
Cell: 082 902 8796
Issued by: Department of Home Affairs
25 April 2007
